Taiwan veteran Hsieh Su-wei entered her first Grand Slam quarter-final after 16 years of trying on Sunday, becoming the oldest player to make a last-eight debut in the Open Era, news agency AFP reported.

The 35-year-old beat Czech Marketa Vondrousova, a player 14 years her junior, in the Australian Open fourth round on a Margaret Court Arena devoid of fans to witness her feat.

Hsieh got a early break in the opening set and never looked troubled in 6-4, 6-2 win over the 19th seed, a player she also toppled in an Abu Dhabi warm-up event in January.

“It was a little bit strange with the crowd, but a great win,” she said.

Hsieh, by far the least decorated player left in her side of the draw, had already shown her mettle by beating 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu en route to meeting Vondrousova.

She made her Grand Slam debut in 2005 but had never gone beyond the fourth round before in 37 previous attempts.

The 35-year-old will now face Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the final eight,